Santa Rosa group wants county-wide control on feral cats

A nonprofit organization called A HOPE for Santa Rosa County FL investigates a report of feral cats in downtown Milton

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Brandi Winkleman, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, checks on a stray cat as she searches for feral cats near Matt & Lauren Jarrett's house in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018.(Photo11: Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com)Buy Photo

A Milton animal advocacy group wants to help the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter control the county's feral cats, but it needs approval from county commissioners.

Brandi Winkleman, founder of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County FL Inc., said the 10-month-old nonprofit has a three-prong plan highlighted by the institution of a trap, neuter and release program to control the feral cat population. The program is similar to what the city of Milton did for a short time earlier this year.

Winkleman and A HOPE Compliance Director Deb Bankes are scheduled to meet with Santa Rosa County Commissioners Chairman Bob Cole early next week, followed by a presentation to the full board on Aug. 9.

Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter Director Dale Hamilton said the county currently does not have a policy in place for trapping, neutering and releasing feral cats, also known as TNR. Feral cats are cats that live outside and have little contact with humans.

Winkleman said A HOPE is looking for permission from the commissioners to handle a trap, neuter and release program for the county at no expense to the county. Winkleman said A HOPE plans to use donations and to apply for grands to cover the $25 cost for each feral cat to be spayed, neutered, vaccinated before being returned to the wild.

"We want their blessing in writing," Winkleman said.

Hamilton said he looks at a county-wide TNR program with some hesitation.

"I'm sure some people won't be in favor of this (TNR) because there will be more cats roaming around in people's yards," Hamilton said. "If I tell people, 'We can't take them in,' that won't make people happy."

When feral cats arrive at the shelter now, they are evaluated for at least five days before it's determined if the animals can be adopted or are euthanized. Hamilton said the evaluation process includes making sure the cats are feral and not unknown animals from someone else's property.

A shelter animal-control officer responds to reports of feral cats outside the city of Milton. Hamilton said he currently refers residents in the city looking for help with feral cats to A HOPE.

Winkleman believes that the nonprofit's TNR plan will reduce the time shelter personnel spend dealing with the animals and it will cut the shelter's euthanasia rate.

"We have to lessen the impact on the shelter and the commissioners would be allowing us to help," she said. "We're putting a healthy animal that is unable to reproduce back. The fixed cat reduces the spraying and fighting and that's what people complain about."

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Brandi Winkleman, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, checks on a stray cat as she searches for feral cats near Matt & Lauren Jarrett's house in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Brandi Winkleman, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, checks on a stray cat as she searches for feral cats near Matt & Lauren Jarrett's house in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Debbie Bankes, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, right, talks with homeowners Matt & Lauren Jarrett as she investigates sightings of feral cats around their house in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Debbie Bankes, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, checks a cat wandering along Baldwin Street while searching for feral cats in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. This particular cat had a collar and is most likely not feral. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com

Debbie Bankes, of A HOPE for Santa Rosa County, checks a cat wandering along Baldwin Street while searching for feral cats in Milton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. This particular cat had a collar and is most likely not feral. Gregg Pachkowski/gregg@pnj.com